TomWaits puts it best — the 60s films of Godard are just so damn exciting. I don't love all of them equally (VIVRE SA VIE and PIERROT are probably at the top of my list and BREATHLESS, actually, is one of my least favorite), but the innovation and sense of freedom make them all like meth for film freaks like me. …

Caught MADE IN U.S.A. at the NuArt when it ran there last year. Twice, actually, so suffice it to say I loved it. It may be a lousy Parker adaptation, but it's a hell of a Godard film.

You know what I realized this weekend? John Cusack? Not a great actor.

Yeah, does anybody know what the deal is with HOMICIDE? It's not on DVD and when the Aero out here in L.A. screened it last year as part of a Mamet retro, they had to offer it as the series' only free screening, so I'm assuming there's a rights problem.

Weird - I just watched the Criterion HOUSE OF GAMES last night. Probably the first time I've seen it in 10 years. Hard to stay ahead of an audience these days when everybody's expecting shit to get twisty… but it's a hell of an enjoyable movie. And Mantegna's still solid gold.

Why do there have to be puppets like Franklin?

Believe it or not, Richard "Southland Darko" Kelly made THE BOX into a full-length feature film with James Marsden and Cameron Diaz. Seems like they shot it a long time ago…

Though somewhat comforting. In every other picture she looks like about the fourth hottest thing in the universe… nice to know she's actually just a human being who doesn't photograph well from certain angles…

I'd recommend starting with A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN. It's essays rather than fiction but it'll give you a great sense of DFW's voice. And it's probably the most accessible and purely enjoyable stuff he ever wrote.